In the office.

The five of them lined up in front of Mr. Guo. Mr. Guo looked at them and said, “You guys were all guaranteed admission through the Math Olympiad. I think there are three other representatives from China who participated in the IMO, right? Then your mathematics foundation should be very solid.”

Other than Xue Xi, the others were a little embarrassed.

Mr. Guo smiled. When he was not smiling, his face was a little mean, but when he smiled, he appeared much more charitable. “There is a saying that goes, learning is like sailing against the current. If you don’t advance, you will fall behind. And you guys are different from others. They were all admitted through the college entrance examination. To put it bluntly, they are strong in every subject. If they don’t do well in mathematics, they can change careers in the future, but the five of you are different.

“Of course, you don’t have to feel pressured. I called you guys over because there’s a learning opportunity I’d like to extend. I wonder if you guys would want to study under me? Of course, studying under me will definitely be very tiring, but I don’t think there will be many opportunities for first-years to work under teachers.”

The five’s eyes lit up. “Yes!”

Mr. Guo nodded. “Alright. I’ll explain it to the postgraduates. You guys can go over when the time comes. Remember to go when there are no classes. I’ve already said it beforehand. Don’t feel tired!”

“We’ll go over now. Coincidentally, there won’t be any classes after this!” Xie Yingying guaranteed.

Mr. Guo nodded in satisfaction and let the five of them out.

Xue Xi said, “I have something on today. You guys go first.”

Xie Yingying said, “Alright, Sister Xi. I’ll help you explain it to the teacher in the laboratory.”

After saying that, she went to the laboratory with the other three boys.

Xue Xi exited the office building and saw the three people standing at the side, staring at her.

Li Zixia and Gu Peng stood together. Both of them were a little stunned and stared at her with uncertainty and shock.

Meanwhile, Qian Zheng pouted and cupped her fists. When she saw her, she snorted and turned around.

Xue Xi: “?”

She slowly walked over, but before she could, Li Zixia arrived in front of her. “Sis, Sister Xi, so you know Qian Zheng?”

Xue Xi: “…Mhm.”

Gu Peng was also helpless. “Then why didn’t you say so earlier? We’d been frightened for your sake these past few days!”

Xue Xi: “…I did.”

The two of them: “?”

Only then did Li Zixia recall that at the banquet, she had told Xue Xi that if anyone came to ask if she knew Qian Zheng, she must answer them that she did.

At that time, Xue Xi had replied with an “Oh.” She’d merely felt that Sister Xi had become easier to talk to. Now that she thought about it—Xue Xi simply knew her!

The corners of her lips twitched as she rubbed her forehead helplessly. She then lowered her voice and said, “Sister Xi, I don’t know the situation. I accidentally said something wrong in front of Ms. Qian just now. Hurry and coax her!”

From Li Zixia’s point of view, even if Xue Xi knew Qian Zheng, she was still the kind of person Qian Zheng controlled.

Xue Xi nodded.

Li Zixia heaved a sigh of relief. She was really afraid that Sister Xi would speak badly and offend Ms. Qian. That would be the end.

She then saw Xue Xi slowly walking toward Qian Zheng and asking, “What’s wrong?”

Qian Zheng pouted. “Sister Xi, why are there so many people calling you Sister Xi? Then I can’t be the first in your heart!”

When Xue Xi heard this, she seriously counted with her fingers. “Dad, Mom, Little Chatterbox, Little Flame, Grandpa, Grandma, and Flames Number One to Seven… Mhm, count to 15!”

Qian Zheng: “?”

Li Zixia: “?”

No, what if Ms. Qian flares up? Sister Xi, can’t you coax her?

Li Zixia and Gu Peng looked at each other and felt that they were doomed.

Ms. Qian will definitely fly into a rage!

Indeed, Qian Zheng pouted and placed her hands on her waist. “Sister Xi, you’re too much! I’ve counted the people you mentioned. I’m at most 14th! How can I be 15th?!”

Li Zixia and Gu Peng: “?”

Both of them widened their eyes and mouths in shock.

Now, if they did not see wrongly, Ms. Qian was probably, perhaps, acting cute and fighting for Xue Xi’s favor?

The two of them turned to look at Xue Xi and saw that her expression was still indifferent. However, she did not explain further. “Actually, no one is more or less precious to me. It’s just that you’re my 15th friend.”

Qian Zheng immediately held her arm. “Then remember, Li Zixia, Gu Peng, and your friends in university must all be behind me~”

Xue Xi: “…Oh. Aren’t you going to be late?”

Qian Zheng looked at the time. “Ah, we’re still five minutes away! Sister Xi, let’s hurry!”

Xue Xi nodded at Li Zixia and asked her to go back first. Since she was entertaining a guest today, she followed Qian Zheng away, leaving Li Zixia and Gu Peng looking at each other.

After some time, Gu Peng suddenly gulped. “Xiao Xia, who exactly is this friend of yours? Why do I feel that Ms. Qian is trying to please her?”

Li Zixia’s eyes lit up. “…No matter what her background is, I only know that she is Sister Xi!”

…

At this moment, people were coming and going to the art activity room. It was extremely lively.

Gu Yunqing was wearing a light purple dress. She looked exceptionally aloof and elegant.

She had a polite and warm smile on her face. She would chat with anyone who came to greet her. She looked very popular.

After chatting for a while, she found someone and asked, “Where’s Fu Yuanxiu?”

The person replied, “Mr. Fu just went out and said that he has something to attend to. He will bring a friend over later.”

A friend… who?

Gu Yunqing frowned.

She picked up her phone again and saw someone constantly reporting Qian Zheng’s whereabouts. “We didn’t manage to stop her outside the school building. She is now outside the school building.”

Gu Yunqing smiled. Not bad.

She was just waiting to vent her anger!

…

Xue Xi and Qian Zheng left the office building and walked toward the activity room.

Qian Zheng said as she walked, “Sister Xi, help me keep an eye out for him. We must not meet Fu Yuanxiu, alright? He is a cultured and knowledgeable person. He is not on the same path as me. It’s mainly because I feel too awkward when I see him. If I had known that he would come today, I would have asked Xiao Yuan out tomorrow to avoid Fu Yuanxiu!”

Xue Xi: “…Oh.”

Qian Zheng continued, “I’ve already told Xiao Yuan that he should wear a white shirt and black pants. He’ll be the one holding a bunch of flowers in his hand. Hehe.”

Xue Xi: “What about you?”

Qian Zheng waved her hand. “I don’t need it! I’m just here to take a look. If Xiao Yuan is too ugly, I won’t appear. I’ll only acknowledge him if he is handsome.”

As the two of them spoke, they arrived at the location they had agreed on—in the small red pavilion behind the staircase of the school building. At this moment, a figure was standing there with his back facing them.

He was tall and slender, and he exuded an elegant aura while wearing a shirt. His back was straight.

Qian Zheng’s eyes lit up. “Sister Xi, just by looking at his back, he doesn’t seem to be bad!”

Xue Xi nodded.

One was born with good looks, but one’s temperament was another matter.

With this back view, even if he looked ugly, this person would not be too bad!

Qian Zheng was so nervous that her hand that was holding Xue Xi’s was dripping wet. She coughed and tidied her dress before saying, “I’m going over!”

Xue Xi nodded.

Qian Zheng took a deep breath and ran to the pavilion. She patted the man’s back. “Hi!”

The man turned around.

He was wearing a pair of eyeglasses and looked refined. The face under the glasses was stunning. It was Fu Yuanxiu.